The Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institut (HBI) in Hamburg has the following vacancy to fill as of May 1, 2026: Research Assistant / PhD candidate (m/f/d) in the field of Computational Social Science.
Fixed-term until May 31, 2029, subject to the approval of third-party funding. Full-time | Pay grade 13 TV-L | Location Hamburg
The internationally renowned Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institut in Hamburg conducts high-level scientific research into media change and the associated structural changes in public communication. Cross-media, interdisciplinary, and independent, it combines basic science and transfer research, thus creating problem-relevant knowledge for politics, business, and civil society. The institute is characterized by a unique and fruitful combination of social science communication studies and legal regulatory research, as well as the increased involvement of computer science.
Together with ten other institutes and universities, the HBI is part of the “Research Institute Social Cohesion” (RISC). It contributes several subprojects that deal in particular with the importance of media for social cohesion. The advertised position is assigned to the RISC subproject “Social Media Observatory” (SMO), which is based in the Media Research Methods Lab of the HBI. The SMO has been developed since 2020 as an open science research infrastructure within the RISC. The aim is to conduct long-term observation of public communication on selected social platforms and online news media in order to answer social and communication science research questions. To this end, large amounts of (network) structural data, content data, and metadata are systematically collected and evaluated using computational social science methods. In addition, the SMO offers consulting and training for RISC researchers interested in social media research. The project team consists of two research assistants and two support staff. We are looking for a research assistant for the implementation and further development of the SMO’s technical infrastructure in the second funding phase of the RISC (project end: 05/2029).
Your tasks
- Implementation of work packages for the BMBF-funded project “Social Media Observatory” (SMO)
- Participation in the design and development of the SMO’s technical infrastructure for data collection and analysis
- Contributing to the development of methods in the field of social media research
- Contributing to the answering of content-related/social science questions in interdisciplinary teams
- Preparing research results for scientific publications and presentations
Your profile
- completed master’s degree, preferably in computer science, data science, computational social science, or digital humanities; if you have a degree in another discipline, proven knowledge in the field of computer science is required
- knowledge of the application and development of CSS methods, for example:
- network analysis
- natural language processing
- multimodal media content analysis
- evaluation of tracking/digital trace data
- simulation and experimental designs
- programming experience, preferably in Python or R
- knowledge of working with databases
- knowledge of command line interfaces (CLI) and cloud computing technologies (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud) is also desirable
- willingness to write scientific publications
- fluency in written and spoken German and English
- independence, creativity, sense of responsibility
- curiosity to explore the ever-changing social media landscape and willingness to face the challenges of rapid technological development
Our offer
- the opportunity to pursue a doctorate as part of an experienced team of CSS researchers at a large, interdisciplinary research institute
- the opportunity to conduct research using current social media data and state-of-the-art technologies
- informal culture and flat hierarchies in a living alternative to traditional academic life
- flexible working hours with the option of hybrid working in consultation with the team
- employment with an attractive and family-friendly employer, certified by the “audit berufundfamilie”
- parent-child office
- a secure job in the public sector and remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector of the federal states (TV-L), annual bonus
- capital-forming benefits and company pension scheme (VBLU)
- employer subsidy for the HVV Profiticket as a Germany ticket
- 30 days of vacation per year, plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve off
- a modern office workplace at our new institute location in Hamburg-Rotherbaum with excellent public transport connections
- bicycle parking spaces in our underground garage with charging cabinet for e-bike batteries
- 2 outdoor parking spaces with e-charging station
Contact
Gregor Wiedemann (g.wiedemann@leibniz-hbi.de) will be happy to answer any project-related questions you may have. Please direct any procedural questions to our Human Resources department (personal@leibniz-hbi.de).
Your application
Have we sparked your interest? Then please send your application by March 15, 2026, quoting reference number “PB1-26-06” to: bewerbung@leibniz-hbi.de. Please attach your application documents as individual PDF files.
We are looking forward to your application!
Your qualifications and strengths are what count for us. That is why we welcome applications from people regardless of their cultural and social background, gender or sexual identity, nationality, age, religion, ideology, or any disability. Severely disabled persons will be given special consideration in accordance with SGB IX if they are equally qualified (please enclose relevant proof). We support the compatibility of work and family life. Professional equality between women and men in accordance with the Federal Equality Act is important to us. We strive to reduce the underrepresentation of one gender in all areas and positions.
Please note the data protection notice that your application documents will be processed and stored by us for the purpose of filling the position. The data will be deleted after the application process has been completed.